C’River Deploys EVs To Cut Transport Cost By Over 75%, Plans Charging Network

CALABAR, CROSS RIVER – The Cross River State Government has begun the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, promote clean energy mobility and strengthen public service delivery across the state.

Governor Bassey Otu disclosed this during the presentation of 36 electric vehicles to Permanent Secretaries in the Cross River State Civil Service as part of activities marking Democracy Day, describing the initiative as the beginning of a wider transition to electric transportation.

The Governor said the move was driven by the need to reduce the financial burden of transportation and protect citizens from rising costs associated with petroleum products.

According to him, the administration initially considered compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles but later adopted electric vehicles after assessing the long-term benefits of clean energy transportation.

“We discovered that about 60 per cent of our expenses are on transportation. We first looked at CNG because we have a lot of gas in the country, but later it became clear that if we were to build our people’s support on this, we had better go electric,” Otu stated.

He explained that the electric vehicles would significantly reduce operational expenses for beneficiaries, particularly costs associated with fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance.

“Today, you are going to save almost more than 75 per cent of what you expend on fueling your cars and running up and down. With these vehicles, you are not changing oil or constantly visiting mechanics. Once the battery is charged, the car is ready to move,” the Governor said.

Otu described the initiative as part of the state’s broader strategy to embrace sustainable transportation while improving efficiency within the public sector.

He said the 36 vehicles presented to Permanent Secretaries represent the first phase of a larger programme involving 100 electric vehicles and 100 electric tricycles designed for public transportation and empowerment purposes.

“This is the first in a series. We still have a lot to do. Before the end of our term, or at the beginning of the next, everybody should be able to own the keys to an electric car because that will make movement seamless,” he said.

The Governor also announced plans to establish charging infrastructure across the state to support the adoption of electric vehicles.

He said the government had already made progress towards developing charging points and service locations that would make electric mobility more accessible to public officials and residents.

“Beyond these cars, we are going to begin to set up charging ports, particularly for those that will serve the public. We have gone quite far with the plans, and the relevant ministries are already working on them,” Otu added.

Earlier, the Governor said the decision to introduce electric mobility was part of efforts to strengthen public service and encourage innovation in governance.

He described Permanent Secretaries as among the most competent professionals in the country and said the gesture was aimed at motivating them to deliver effectively.

“One of the main directions and focuses of our administration is to build integrity in service and also dignify the different officials and give them confidence to be able to produce at the highest level anybody can think of,” he said.

The Head of Service of Cross River State, Barrister Orok Okon, described the vehicle presentation as a historic milestone for the civil service, noting that Permanent Secretaries had not received such a benefit in more than a decade.

He said the initiative marked the first time civil servants in the state were benefiting from the latest electric automobile technology.

“Generations of Permanent Secretaries who worked for this state in the last ten years were not this fortunate. Today, His Excellency has broken that jinx. The first beneficiaries of the latest global technology in electric automobiles are Permanent Secretaries serving in the Government of Cross River State,” Okon stated.

Truth Live News gathered that the Head of Service assured the Governor that the gesture would encourage greater commitment and improved service delivery among civil servants.

The Governor further commended the Cross River State House of Assembly for providing legislative support and approving budgets that enabled the implementation of the administration’s development programmes.

He said the cooperation between the executive and legislature remained important to achieving sustainable development in the state.

The deployment of the electric vehicles marks Cross River’s entry into a new phase of clean energy transportation, with the government expressing commitment to expanding access to electric mobility beyond public officials to the wider population.